Closing wheel equalizer

ABSTRACT

A furrow closing apparatus is used with a planter that opens a furrow and deposits seeds as the planter moves in a forward direction over the ground. The furrow closing apparatus includes a frame attached to the planter and first and second closing wheels rotatably mounted on respective first and second closing wheel axles. A pivot axle extends from the frame generally transverse to the direction of travel of the planter and an equalizer bracket pivotably connected to the pivot axle. The equalizer bracket receives the first closing wheel axle in a position aft of the pivot axle and receives the second closing wheel axle in a position forward of the pivot axle such that the equalizer bracket pivots as the closing wheels traverse uneven ground to cause the first closing wheel and the second closing wheel to apply a substantially equal force in closing the furrow.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.61/580,355 filed Dec. 27, 2011, entitled “CLOSING WHEEL EQUALIZER”.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

This invention relates generally to a furrow closing mechanism onagricultural planters, and more particularly to a planter having furrowclosing wheels that exert near uniform force to close the furrow atmultiple planting depths and ground conditions.

2. Description of Related Art

Planters with a plurality of seed meters may plant seeds upon or in theground at various depths and spacings. A furrow opener, such as adouble-disc opener having a pair of downwardly and slightly forwardlyconverging discs, creates a furrow in the soil for receiving seedsdropped through a dispensing tube. Gauge wheels provide support for theplanter and limit the depth of penetration of the furrow opener into theground. A pair of closing wheels attached at the rear of the plantercloses the seed furrow after the seeds have been deposited therein.

One of the closing wheels may be positioned closer to the front of theplanter than the other of the closing wheels. Depending on the plantingdepth, only one of the closing wheels may touch the ground. This exertsunequal force on the closing wheels and hence one side of the furrowwill have more sidewall compaction that the other side. This may lead toundesirable sidewall compaction on one side or an open furrow after theseed is placed.

It would therefore be desirable to have a closing wheel arrangement thatexerts a more equal force with each wheel to reduce non-uniform sidewallcompaction and consistent closing of the furrow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, the invention is directed to a furrow closingapparatus for use with an agricultural planter that opens a furrow inthe ground and deposits seeds in the furrow as the planter moves in aforward direction of travel over the ground. The furrow closingapparatus includes a frame attached to the planter and first and secondclosing wheels rotatably mounted on respective first and second closingwheel axles. The furrow closing apparatus also includes a pivot axleextending from either side of the frame generally transverse to thedirection of travel of the planter and an equalizer bracket pivotablyconnected to the pivot axle. The equalizer bracket receives the firstclosing wheel axle in a position aft of the pivot axle and receives thesecond closing wheel axle in a position forward of the pivot axle suchthat the equalizer bracket pivots as the closing wheels traverse unevenground to cause the first closing wheel and the second closing wheel toapply a substantially equal force in closing the furrow.

Yet another embodiment may comprise a method of closing a furrow withfurrow closing wheels on a planter. The method includes installing anequalizer bracket to a frame, the equalizer bracket pivotable about apivot axle and connecting a first closing wheel and a second closingwheel to the equalizer bracket. The first closing wheel and the secondclosing wheel may be connected to the equalizer bracket such that whenan unequal force is applied to the first closing wheel and the secondclosing wheel the equalizer bracket pivots to distribute the unequalforce equally between the first closing wheel and the second closingwheel.

These and other features and advantages of this invention are describedin, or are apparent from, the following detailed description of variousexample embodiments of the systems and methods according to thisinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above mentioned and other features of this invention will becomemore apparent and the invention itself will be better understood byreference to the following description of embodiments of the inventiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a single row planter;

FIG. 2 shows a closing wheel equalizer assembly used with the planter ofFIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 shows a closing wheel equalizer bracket of the closing wheelequalizer assembly of FIG. 2.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

The following description refers to the accompanying drawings. Whereverpossible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and thefollowing description to refer to the same or similar elements. Whileembodiments may be described, modifications, adaptations, and otherimplementations are possible. For example, substitutions, additions, ormodifications may be made to the elements illustrated in the drawings,and the methods described herein may be modified by substituting,reordering, or adding stages to the disclosed methods. Accordingly, thefollowing example embodiments do not limit the disclosure. Instead, theproper scope is defined by the appended claims.

Planters may be used within an agricultural environment to facilitateplacing seed and fertilizer in the ground. The planter may be connectedto a tractor and have seed/fertilizer hoppers. The planter may create afurrow for the seed/fertilizer. The planter may use gauge wheels to setthe depth of the furrow. After the seed or fertilizer is placed in thefurrow, the planter may close the furrow with closing wheels.

While the drawings illustrate and the specification describes certainembodiments, it is to be understood that such disclosure is by way ofexample only. There is no intent to limit the principles disclosed tothe particular disclosed embodiments. References hereinafter made tocertain directions, such as, for example, “front” and “rear” are made asviewed from the side of a planter.

FIG. 1 illustrates a planter 100. Planter 100 may be a single rowplanter adapted for mounting on a hitch of a tractor or may comprise apull-type implement with its own set of transport wheels. Planter 100may include some suitable attachment mechanism for attaching it to atool bar (not shown). An example of such an attachment mechanismcomprises a four-bar linkage 102 and a pair of U-bolts (not shown) forfastening linkage 102 to the tool bar. Planter 100 may comprise a frame104 attached to and projecting rearwardly from linkage 102. Frame 104may comprise a number of components mounted thereon as hereinafterexplained.

As shown in FIG. 1, planter 100 may include frame 104 and an input meter106 attached to the frame 104. The planter 100 may include a horsecollar 108 for further securing planter 100 to the tool bar and forprotecting meter 106. Planter 100 may be powered or driven by individualmechanical, electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic motors. One or moreplanters 100 may be driven by a common motor. For example, planter 100may be powered by a hydraulic drive or motor that powers a main lineshaft of planter 100. Alternatively, planter 100 may be driven by atransmission where planter 100's wheels contacting the ground drive themain line shaft.

For each meter 106, the frame 104 of planter 100 may carry a generallyupright dispensing tube 110 and may be adapted for receiving inputs suchas seeds from meter 106. Meter 106 may receive seeds from a source ofsupply, such as a seed box or hopper 112 that may also be mounted onframe 104. Seeds that are received by meter 106 from hopper 112 may besingulated and dropped through dispensing tube 110 for deposit into theground as planter 100 advances.

As is known in the art, a suitable furrow opener (not shown) may also becarried by frame 104 for opening a furrow in the soil for receivingseeds dropped through a dispensing tube. The furrow opener may take avariety of different forms. For example, the furrow opener may take theform of a double-disc opener having a pair of downwardly and slightlyforwardly converging discs rotatably mounted on frame 104. Thedispensing tube may project downwardly between the pair of discs and mayhave a lower discharge end facing generally rearwardly and downwardly todischarge the seeds into the furrow.

A first gauge wheel 118 and a second gauge wheel 120 may be disposed onopposite sides and may be rotatably mounted on frame 104, via a firstgauge wheel arm assembly 122 and a second gauge wheel arm assembly 124,and may provide support for frame 104. The first and second gauge wheels118, 120 may limit the depth of penetration of the furrow opener intothe ground. Frame 104 may swing up and down relative to the tool bar viaa four-bar linkage 102, and the downward movement may be limited byfirst and second gauge wheels 118, 120 as they roll along the ground. Apair of closing wheels 126 and 128 may be attached to the rear of frame104 and may function to close the seed furrow after seeds have beendeposited therein by dispensing tube 110. First and second closingwheels 126, 128 may be attached to planter 100 by a second frame 130.The vertical position of first gauge wheel 118 and second gauge wheel120 relative to frame 104 and the furrow opener may be adjusted. One ofthe closing wheels 126, 128 may be positioned closer to the front of theplanter 100 than the other of the closing wheels 128, 126.

FIG. 2 is diagram of a closing wheel equalizer assembly 200. Anequalizer bracket 202 (shown in greater detail in FIG. 3) may bepivotably attached to second frame 130 at a pivot axle 204. In oneembodiment, the equalizer bracket 202 may be formed of first and secondsidewalls 300, 301 spaced so as to be adjacent downward tabs 203 of thesecond frame 130. Pivot axle 204 passes through a first opening 302 infirst sidewall 300 and a second opening 304 in the second sidewall 301of equalizer bracket 202. A first axle 206 and a second axle 208 may beconnected to equalizer bracket 202 at a first axle receiver 306 and asecond axle receiver 308, respectively. The first axle receiver 306 islocated forward of the pivot axle 204 and the second axle receiver 308is located aft of the pivot axle 204. First closing wheel 126 (removedin FIG. 2 for clarity) may be coupled to first axle 206 and secondclosing wheel 128 may be coupled to second axle 208.

Unequal forces applied to first axle 206 and second axle 208 may causeequalizer bracket 202 to pivot about pivot axle 204. For example, duringoperation second closing wheel 128 may hit a bump in a field and causeequalizer bracket 202 to pivot as indicated by arrow 210. As equalizerbracket 202 pivots, it may cause first closing wheel 126 and secondclosing wheel 128 to apply an equal force to a furrow. In other words,as equalizer bracket 202 pivots, it may equally distribute a downwardforce applied by second frame 130 to first closing wheel 126 and secondclosing wheel 128.

In one embodiment, a lock pin 220 may be used to prevent equalizerbracket 202 from pivoting. In the illustrated embodiment, the lock pin220 is held in lock-pin holes 222 in the tabs 203 of the second frame130 and also passes through aligned lock-pin openings 320 in the firstand second sidewalls 300, 301 of the equalizer bracket 202. The lock pinopenings 320 desirably have a shape comprising an elongated slot 322with a larger-diameter center hole 324. During pivoting operations, thelock pin 220 slides in the elongated slot 324 as the equalizer bracket202 pivots about the pivot axle 204. When it is desired to lock theequalizer bracket 202, at least one sleeve 230 on the lock pin 220 ismoved into the larger center hole 322 in one or both of the first andsecond sidewalls 300, 301. The sleeve 230 has a diameter sized to fitinto the larger center hole 324 but too large to fit into the elongatedslot 322. Thus, with the sleeve 230 inserted into the lock pin openings320, the sleeve 230 mounted on the lock pin 220 prevents equalizerbracket 202 from pivoting about the pivot axle 204. When it is desiredto permit the equalizer bracket 202 to pivot, the sleeve 230 is movedinward along the lock pin 220 out of the lock pin opening 320 andsecured between the first and second sidewalls 300, 301.

A biasing device may provide resistance to pivoting exhibited by theequalizer bracket 202. For example, springs, shocks, or other dampeningdevices may be used to bias the rotation of the equalizer bracket 202.In one embodiment, a torsion spring may be mounted on the pivoting axle204. In addition, the biasing device may be controllable such that auser may adjust the resistance to rotation of the equalizer bracket 202.For instance, during operation, a user may increase the resistanceapplied by an actuator and thereby reduce the amount of travel exhibitedby equalizer bracket 202.

First axle 206 may comprise a plurality of mounting locations 212 formounting first closing wheel 126 to first axle 206. Second axle 208 mayalso comprise a substantially similar plurality of mounting locations(not shown) for mounting second closing wheel 128. First closing wheel126 and second closing wheel 128 may be located at differing positionsalong their respective axles 206, 208. For example, first axle 206 andsecond axle 208 each may have three different locations 212 at whichfirst closing wheel 126 and second closing wheel 128 may be located.During operation first closing wheel 126 may be located in a firstposition and second closing wheel 128 may be located in a thirdposition. The differing positions may cause first closing wheel 126 tobe spaced further from second frame 130 than second closing wheel 128.The differential in spacing may cause first closing wheel 126 togenerate a greater downward force on the ground than second closingwheel 128.

While this invention has been described in conjunction with the specificembodiments described above, it is evident that many alternatives,combinations, modifications and variations are apparent to those skilledin the art. Accordingly, the preferred embodiments of this invention, asset forth above are intended to be illustrative only, and not in alimiting sense. Various changes can be made without departing from thespirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A furrow closing apparatus for use with anagricultural planter that opens a furrow in the ground and depositsseeds in the furrow as the planter moves in a forward direction oftravel over the ground, the furrow closing apparatus comprising: a frameattached to the planter; first and second closing wheels rotatablymounted on respective first and second closing wheel axles; a pivot axleextending from first and second sides of the frame generally transverseto the direction of travel of the planter; and an equalizer bracketpivotably connected to the pivot axle, the equalizer bracket receivingthe first closing wheel axle in a position aft of the pivot axle andreceiving the second closing wheel axle in a position forward of thepivot axle such that the equalizer bracket pivots as the closing wheelstraverse uneven ground to cause the first closing wheel and the secondclosing wheel to apply a substantially equal force in closing thefurrow.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the equalizer bracketcomprises a first axle receiver, and a second axle receiver, the firstaxle coupled to the first axle receiver, the second axle coupled to thesecond axle receiver.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the equalizerbracket is configured to equally distribute a downward force applied bythe frame to the first closing wheel and the second closing wheel. 4.The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a lock pin arranged toprevent the equalizer bracket from pivoting about the pivot axle.
 5. Theapparatus of claim 1, further comprising a biasing device arranged todampen a pivoting movement of the equalizer bracket.
 6. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein both the first axle and the second axle comprise aplurality of mounting locations for mounting the first closing wheel andthe second closing wheel.
 7. A method of closing a seed furrow withclosing wheels on a planter, the method comprising: installing anequalizer bracket to a frame, the equalizer bracket pivotable about apivot axle; and connecting a first closing wheel and a second closingwheel to the equalizer bracket such that when an unequal force isapplied to the first closing wheel and the second closing wheel theequalizer bracket pivots to distribute the unequal force equally betweenthe first closing wheel and the second closing wheel.
 8. The method ofclaim 7, wherein connecting the first closing wheel and the secondclosing wheel to the equalizer bracket such that when an unequal forceis applied to the first closing wheel and the second closing wheel theequalizer bracket pivots to distribute the unequal force equally betweenthe first closing wheel and the second closing wheel comprisesconfiguring the equalizer bracket to distribute a downward applied forcefrom the frame to the first closing wheel and the second closing wheelequally between the first closing wheel and the second closing wheel. 9.The method of claim 7, connecting the first closing wheel and the secondclosing wheel to the equalizer bracket such that when an unequal forceis applied to the first closing wheel and the second closing wheel theequalizer bracket pivots to distribute the unequal force equally betweenthe first closing wheel and the second closing wheel comprisesconfiguring a dampening device to dampen a pivoting motion of theequalizer bracket.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein configuring thedampening device to dampen the pivoting motion of the equalizer bracketcomprises configuring the dampening device to adjust a dampening levelin response to a user input.